HABITAT FACTS:
- Habitat began working in Nicaragua in 1984.
- Individuals served in FY2022 – 32,220
- Through new construction – 465
- Through incremental building -- 770
- Through repairs-- 1,240
- Through professional services -- 345
- Through market development– 29,400
COUNTRY FACTS:
Capital city -- Managua
Population – 6.8 million
Life expectancy – 74.5 years
Unemployment rate – 2.6%
Below poverty line – 16.3%
The housing need in Nicaragua
Nicaragua has one of the largest qualitative and quantitative housing deficits in Latin America and the Caribbean with a backlog of 957,000 units, according to the Chamber of Developers of Nicaragua.
Based on data from the Inter-American Development Bank, one in 10 Nicaraguans lives in inadequate housing. Private-sector efforts and public investment meet only 25% of the country’s housing needs each year, so the deficit continues to grow.
How Habitat addresses the need
Safe, stable homes
Habitat Nicaragua works in partnership with various stakeholders to reduce the housing deficit through new home construction and progressive home improvements, construction of core housing that can be expanded as families’ resources permit, water and sanitation solutions, repairs, and expansions. We have integrated a solar panel and a rainwater harvesting system into each core house for adaptation to the effects of climate change and increase housing resilience.
Support services for housing
Habitat believes in strengthening the capacity of families to continue their housing improvements. Currently, we provide training in financial education, safe housing, climate change, housing law, and property ownership, as well as community learning about healthy housing.
Impact of concrete floor initiative
Habitat Nicaragua has joined the regional initiative “100,000 floors to play on” to replace unsafe, dirt floors with concrete floors. Unpaved floors serve as a breeding ground for disease-causing parasites, bacteria and insects that can lead to major health and hygiene threats, particularly for children who spend much of their time crawling and playing on the floor. Research shows that dirt floors can also stunt children’s cognitive development. Habitat Nicaragua aims to transform 1,200 dirt floors into concrete by 2028.
What you can do
DONATE
Please visit habitat.org/donate and select “Designate your donation” to donate to Habitat Nicaragua. You may also contact us at [email protected] and our team will respond with information on ways you can support Nicaraguan families.
VOLUNTEER
Under the Global Village program, builds have resumed in select locations in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Please visit habitat.org/gv for more information and updates.
TITHE
Habitat affiliates in the U.S. support the international work through an annual tithe. For additional information, email [email protected] or contact your local Habitat organization.
CONTACT
Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua, Managua, Residencial Los Robles. East side of Plaza Cuba. House #12. Post Office Box: #2236
Phone: +505 2270-1080 Email: [email protected]
Website: habitatnicaragua.org
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